Development
True or false: Your brain stops developing when you turn 18.
False
What is the name of the justice system that generally handles offenses committed by minors?
The juvenile justice system generally handles cases involving individuals under 18 who are accused of committing offenses.
It often emphasizes rehabilitation and development rather than punishment alone.
Called Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court in some jurisdictions
Humans only use 10% of their brains. (Myth or fact?)
MYTH
We use virtually all parts of our brains, although different regions are more active during different activities.
Even when we're resting or sleeping, our brains remain active.
Name one person who could help a teenager going through a difficult time.
A teenager is more likely to engage in risky behavior when friends are watching. What psychological influence might explain this?
A) Peer influence
B) Memory loss
C) Intelligence
A) Peer influence.
Peers can influence adolescents' decision-making and increase their willingness to take risks, especially in emotionally exciting or socially rewarding situations.
Can peer pressure be positive, negative, or both?
Both!
True or false: Someone can confess to a crime they didn't commit.
True
False confessions can occur because of pressure, fear, exhaustion, or a desire to escape a stressful situation. Adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to false confessions due to developmental factors.
People who are lying always avoid eye contact. (Myth or fact?)
MYTH
Avoiding eye contact is not a reliable indicator of lying.
Some people maintain eye contact when lying, while others avoid it because they're nervous, shy, or uncomfortable.
Fun fact: Research suggests people are generally not very accurate at detecting lies based on behavior alone.
Researchers find that teenagers who feel connected to their schools tend to have better outcomes. Which of the following best explains why?
A) School connectedness eliminates all stress.
B) Feeling connected to school can provide belonging, support, and access to resources.
C) Students who like school never experience adversity.
Answer: B) Feeling connected to school can provide belonging, support, and access to resources
A teenager has experienced significant adversity but is doing well in school and maintaining healthy relationships. What psychological concept does this illustrate?
A) Peer pressure
B) Resilience
C) Punishment
B) Resilience.
Resilience refers to positive adaptation despite experiencing significant adversity. It doesn't mean someone is unaffected by challenges; rather, it means they demonstrate positive functioning despite them.
A student is offered $10 today or $20 next week. Choosing the immediate reward instead of waiting is an example of what?
A) Delayed gratification
B) Preference for immediate rewards
C) Peer pressure
B) Preference for immediate rewards
What is the difference between rehabilitation and punishment?
Rehabilitation: Focuses on helping individuals change their behavior, develop skills, and reduce the likelihood of future offending.
Punishment: Focuses on imposing consequences for wrongdoing, often to promote accountability or deter future offenses.
Your brain can sometimes fill in missing information without you realizing it. (Myth or fact?)
FACT
Our brains use previous experiences, expectations, and existing knowledge to fill in gaps in information.
This helps us process information quickly, but it can also lead to mistakes or inaccurate memories.
Connection to psychology: This is one reason cognitive biases are important. Our expectations can influence how we interpret situations, remember events, and make judgments.
True or false: Experiencing adversity at different ages can influence how it affects a person's development.
True; The timing of adversity matters because different skills, abilities, and brain systems develop at different stages of life. Experiencing adversity during a particularly sensitive developmental period may influence how someone responds to challenges.
Two people witness a fight at school but remember different details. Does that mean that one of them is lying?
No.
Memory is reconstructive, meaning our brains don't record events exactly like a video camera. Differences in attention, perspective, emotions, and prior experiences can influence what people remember.
Name two ways stress can affect someone's decision-making.
Why might a judge consider a teenager's age when making a legal decision?
Because teenagers are still developing emotionally, socially, and cognitively, which can influence their decision-making, impulse control, and understanding of consequences.
People are more likely to help someone in an emergency when there are lots of other people around. (Myth or fact?)
MYTH (Generally)
This relates to the bystander effect, which describes how people may be less likely to intervene when other people are present.
One explanation is diffusion of responsibility: Individuals may assume someone else will step in to help.
Important nuance: The bystander effect doesn't occur in every situation. In some emergencies, having more people around can actually increase the likelihood that someone helps.
Why might two people who experience the same adversity have different outcomes?
Because people have different experiences, resources, support systems, and individual characteristics that can influence how they respond to adversity.
During a police interview, an investigator repeatedly suggests that a witness saw a red car, even though the witness initially couldn't remember its color. What could happen to the witness's memory?
A) It becomes more accurate
B) It could be influenced by the suggestion
C) Nothing changes
B) It could be influenced by the suggestion.
This illustrates the misinformation effect, where misleading information introduced after an event can influence someone's memory of what happened.
Jordan, 16, grew up in a neighborhood where arguments frequently escalated into physical fights. One day at school, another student accidentally bumps into Jordan in the hallway. Jordan immediately becomes defensive and assumes the student did it intentionally.
Which explanation best accounts for Jordan's reaction?
A) Jordan has difficulty understanding social situations.
B) Jordan may have learned to interpret ambiguous situations as potentially threatening.
C) Jordan is deliberately looking for opportunities to fight.
B. Repeated exposure to threatening situations can increase sensitivity to potential danger, sometimes leading individuals to interpret ambiguous social cues as hostile.
Marcus, a 16-year-old, was arrested for shoplifting with a group of friends. This is his first offense. Marcus has recently been missing school, and his grades have dropped. During his court hearing, the judge learns that Marcus has been experiencing instability at home and has limited adult supervision. However, he has a positive relationship with a school counselor and expresses regret for his actions.
If you were the judge, which intervention would be most appropriate for Marcus?
A) Place Marcus in juvenile detention for 30 days to demonstrate the seriousness of his actions and discourage future offending.
B) Place Marcus on intensive probation with strict curfews, frequent check-ins, and electronic monitoring to ensure he does not reoffend.
C) Refer Marcus to a community-based diversion program that includes restorative justice, counseling, and support for reconnecting with school.
C; A community-based diversion program would generally be the most appropriate option for a first-time, low-risk youth charged with a nonviolent offense. It holds Marcus accountable while addressing factors that may contribute to future offending.
Experiencing childhood adversity guarantees negative outcomes in adulthood. (Myth or fact?)
MYTH
Childhood adversity can increase the risk of negative outcomes, but it does not guarantee them.
Many individuals demonstrate resilience and experience positive outcomes despite adversity.
Connection to R2R Lab: Researchers study how protective factors, such as supportive relationships, access to resources, and positive environments, can promote healthy development despite exposure to adversity.
What's the difference between a risk factor and a protective factor? Give one example of each.
Risk factor: Something that increases the likelihood of experiencing a negative outcome. (Exposure to violence, chronic illness, family instability, etc.)
Protective factor: Something that reduces the likelihood of a negative outcome, particularly in the presence of risk or adversity. (supportive relationships, positive school environment, access to mental health resources, etc.)
Two teens commit the same offense, but one has strong family support, and the other is experiencing significant adversity. Should they automatically receive identical rehabilitation plans? Explain.
Answer: No. Rehabilitation plans should be individualized based on each teenager's needs, circumstances, strengths, and risk factors.